RFID has always seemed to fit a little uncomfortably in the CIO's toolset. It's not a new technology, yet it's not truly tried and tested. It's still trying to convince some sceptics, especially with regard to privacy (and some keep arguing, security) and yet 2008 is likely to be a take-off year.
It is interesting, then, to find RFID at the top of the CIO's wishlist alongside SOA, according to this IDC survey. However, I'd quibble to some extent with the assertion that RFID adoption "will not accelerate until costs come down and its performance improves, easing the way for CIOs seeking to develop a business case."
I think that 'RFID tags too expensive' argument is now a too easy (and discredited) cop out, and not applicable to smart companies and forward-thinking CIOs who are going beyond the tag cost and looking towards the business advantage. Smart CIOs are already on the business case, and if everyone dithers, waiting for tag costs to come down (still further), we'll be waiting forever. What is the floor cost for RFID tags that provides the trigger for everyone?
Marks & Spencer didn't fret itself into paralysis about the 'Oh, too expensive' cost of RFID tags. It just pressed ahead and gained a competitive advantage.
As for the performance issue, Hong Kong Airport seems to have made a pretty big success about using RFID tags for its baggage-handling since 2004, helping it gain the label of the world's best airport. Then again, it could always have waited for tag costs to come down.......
Technorati tags: IDC Marks & Spencer, Hong Kong Airport SOA, privacy security CIOs RFID tags